The facility was closed, but U.S. Postal Service spokeswoman Dawn Peppinger says about 75 employees were sorting mail when the bear got inside the post office near the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.

Employees notified airport police. The bear climbed on a conveyor belt and wound up in an area where garbage is compacted.

Airport Deputy Police Chief Dave Schulling says several officers responded, and found the animal near several dozen people. The bear was killed when officers' efforts to get the animal back outside failed.